Drilling machine



Sept. 4,1928. 1,683,006 A. F. YEATON Y DRILLING MACHINE Filed Dec. 26, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet '1 /21 W w. 8/ I i INVENTOR.

Q i3 47 )WTOM A TTORNEY.

Sept. 4, 1928. 1,683,006

' A. F. YEATON DRILLING MACHINE Filed Dec. 26, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOA Ayn y XE/ITUN.

A TTORNEY.

Sept. 4, 1928.

Filed Dec. 26, 1924,

5 Sheets-Sheet 3 6,v ATTORNEY.

Sept. 4, 1928.

A. F. YEATQN DRILLING MACHINE Filed Dec. '26, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet .4

INVENTORJ A: m 1. X5470.

A TTORNEY.

Sept. 4, 1928. 1,683,006

. A. F. YEATON DRILLING MACHINE Filed Dec. 26,v 1924 5 Sheet-Sheet 5 mummni 3 IN VEN TOR.

I fiat-6. a

- ATTORNEY. b

Patented Sept. 4, 1928.

UNITED srAT-iss 1,683,066 A TENT OFFICE- 'AL'IQN r. YEATON, or AKRON/ IO, e sie-m sa;{salesman fireman COMPANY, OF AKRON, OHIO, A oonroanrroiv oronro.

DRILLING MACHINE.

Application filed December 26, 1924. Seria1'No.'757 ,972.

This inventio n'relates to well-drilling machines and particularly to power transmitting mechanisms adapted to be utilized to operate the drilling tools in either of a num ber ofdifferent ways such as for spudding or drillingvuntil tools are buried and for subsequently drilling by the use of a walking beam, as the tools sink to greater depth, the power means also being adapted to drive a suitable tractor by which the drilling'ma chine may be readily transported from place to place forthe sinking of different wells.

"In the operation of drilling a well, 'for example,an oil well, the sinking of the tool when starting the well is called spuddin'g and is accomplished by reciprocations of the idol-carrying cable over the crown pulley on the mast. This operation is necessary because the tools cannot be efiiciently operated by a' walking beam due to'the length of the tools as compared with the height of the walking beam above the ground. After the tool has been sunk at least its own depth into the ground, the reciprocations of the tool may be accomplished by connecting the tool cable to the walking beam.

The purpose ofcthe present invention, in general, is to provide for the-operation of the various instrumentalities described above through a single source of power and a transmission arranged to be selectively connected to each of the instrumentalities.

Other purposes or objects of the invention will become apparent as the following description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings, it being'understood that the invention is not limited to the specific form shown and described.

Of the accon'ipanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a drilling machine embodying the invention and arranged for the spudding operation;

Figure 2 is a similar side elevation showi-ng the machine arranged for drilling with the use of the walking beam;

Figure 3 is a central horizontal section through the power transmission;

Figure l is a section on line 4llof Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a section at 5-5 of Figure 3'; and

Figure 6' is a detail side elevation of the clutch shifting mechanism. 7

. Referring to the drawings, 10 is the main frame of the machine which is carried by wheels 11 and track wheels 12. Mounted onthe forward end of frame 10is an engine 13 or other prime mover which is supported By especial reference to Figures 3to 6,

it will appear that the transmission 15 includes a main housing 16 through which extends a shaft17 connected directly to the fly wheel 18 of engine 13 by a disk 19 secured on shaft 17 by a key 20 and a nut 21 threaded onto the endv of shaft 17. Journaled on the shaft 17 are a 'pair of similar but reversely positioned bevel pinions 22, 22, held in spaced relation thereon by a sleeve 23 on shaft 17 betweenthe pinions 22. The pinions 22 are adapted respectively to be clutched to shaft 17 v bydisk clutches 2st, 24 of which one member 25 of each is securedonto each gear 22 by a key 26, each unit including mem ber 25 and 22 being journalcd by ballbearings 27 in 'housing 16;

i For shifting each shiftable member 28 of the clutches, a collar '29 may be slidably mounted on shaft 17 and may be actuated thereon by yokes 3O engaged with projections .29 on the collar 29. Yokes 30 are secured on a shaft 31 jou'rnaled in bearings 32, 32 formed in housing 16', shaft 31 being arranged to project out of'the housing and having a clutch operatingarm 33 secured thereon.

In the use of the apparatus, as will later appear, it is desirable to have one or the otherof gears 22 clutched onto shaft 17 or both disconnected therefrom in a neutral position. To this end improved means are provided for shifting arms 13 so that either or both clutches may be disengaged, or so that one may be disengaged while the other is engaged but both cannot be simultaneously engaged. This means includes a double armed lever 34 loosely pivoted on one shaft 32 and retained thereon by a washer 35 and nut 36, an adjustable link37 connected to lever 3d and to an arm 38, a bell crank lever 39 to which arm 38. is connected, the lever 39 being pivoted at 40 on a bracket 41 formed on casing 16, and adjustable links 12, 4K2 connecting the ends of bell crank lever 39, respectively, with the clutch operating arms iio J Pulley 70 hast ra-i ned thereover a belt 85 Meshing with gears 22 so as to be seleca bevel gear 43 secured on a shaft 44 extending at right angles to shaft 17 through an auxiliary housing 45 secured on housing 16. Shaft 44 is journaled inball bearings 46, 46 supported in housing 45 and, splined onto shaft 44, are shiftable gears 47 and 48 operable b a grooved collar 49 thereon which is ad apted to be shifted by a yoke 50 secured on a rod 51 which is slidably mounted in bearings 52, 52 in housing 45, the rod 51 being notched-as at 53, 53 so as-tobe locked in.predetermined positions by a latch 54 urged intoengagement with notches 53 through an aperture 55 leading into one bearing 52, the latch 54being urgedinto engagement with the notches by a spring 56 in aperture 55'and retained by means of a screw 57 threaded into the outer end of-the aperture. For shifting the yoke 50 and rod 51, a'lever 58 secured on a shaft 59 journaled in housing 45 is arranged on the outside of the housing to operate an arm 60 on shaft 59 within the housing which arm is formed on its free end with a ball 61 engaged ina socket 62 in yoke 50.

Gears 47 and 48 are shiftable as described so as to be adapted to be shiftedrespectively into mesh with gears 63 and 64 secured in spaced relation on a shaft 65 by a key 66 and by a spacer-sleeve 67. Shaft 65 extends parallel to shaft 44 and is journaled in bearings 68, 68 in housing 45, the shaft 65 being retained. against longitudinal displacement by shoulder 69 and by sleeve 69 thereon respectively betweenzgears 63 and 64 and the housing 45. A drive pulley 70Vis secured on one end of shaft 65 projecting from housing 45. This pulley is used for operating the drilling tools as Will belater described. i

.Shaft 65 maywhen it is desired to drive the tractor, be extended outof the casing at its other end which may be journaled in a bracket 71 secured onto housing 45 by ball bearings 72. The machine,however, may be drawn about by other power means in which case shaft 65 is not extended beyond casing 45. A- sprocket 73 freely rotatable on this end of shaft 65 adjacent bracket 71 is adapted to drive the track wheels 12 and to this end adapted to be clutched jonto shaft 65 by a shiftable clutch collar 74 keyed or splined on shaft 65 and shiftable by means of a yoke f75 formed on a. pitman 76 connected to a crank shaft 77 journaled on bracket- 78 formed on bracket 7], the crank shaft being operable by a hand-lever 79.- A chain 80 is trained over sprocket 7 3 and over asprocket'81journaled onto frame 10 andconnected with a sprocket 82 to rotatethe latter, a. chain 83 being trained over a sprocket 82 and a tractor-driving sprocket which is also trained over a band wheel or a large drill-operating pulley 86 secured ona shaft'87 journaled on frame 10. Arranged for movement toward and from band wheel 7 or pulley 86 into or awa from driving engageinent therewith is a friction drive wheel 88 secured on a shaft 89' journaled in an eccentrically adjustable bearing 90 operable to be tightened or loosened on the drum by being connected atone end to'an arm 97 pivoted on fran1e 10 and at the other endto by any suitable means, (not shown). Qn shaft 89 is secured a pinion 91 meshing with a-lever 98 pivoted on frame 10 which may be able means (not shown). a

Cable 94 extends upwardlyover a crown pulley 99 journaled on the top of a mast 100, which is supported by being secured to frame 10 and by suitable guy Wires or braces (not shown), and for the operation of spudding for which the apparatus is adapted in the manner illustrated in Figure 1, the cable 94 is connected directly to the drilling tool 101.- For obtaining reciprocations of tool 101 for thespudding operation cable 94 is passed over an oscillatory pulley 102'journaled on the end of an arm-103 secured on a shaft 104, theshaft 104 being oscillated by an arm 105 secured thereto'and formed with a slot 106, in which is arranged a sliding locked in position to brake the reel by suitblock 107 connected by a pin 108 into one of a series of apertures 109, 109 in a crank'arm 110 secured on shaft 87, the throw of the oscillatory pulley 102 being thus adjustable to vary the stroke of the tool 101. Arm

carrying block 107 is easily removable from shaft 104 when not in use and pulley 102 may be secured out of the path of crank when; the former is not being used in any suitable manner (Figure 2).;

Brace 111 is mounted on frame 10 to s upport a Samson post 112 on the upper end of i which is pivoted a walking, beam 113, the

beam 113 having a. s uitable cable'clamping device 114suspended from one end thereof by a temper screw consistingof an adj usting screw 115 threaded through an aperture in mentof the pin in any oneof apertures 109.

For supporting the pitman 117 andbeam 113 out of the Way during the spudding operation brackets 119 and 120 are secured on frame 10 toreeeive the pitman 117 in the manner illustrated in Figure l. 1.

In the use of the' -drillin'g machine, it is first moved to the exact locatiqll. Where the well isto be sunkfbj starting the-engine 13 with both Clutches 2% disengagech-with gears 63 and "fi l in neutral position shown in Fig me at and with sprocket 7 3 unclutched from shaft 65 also as shown in Figured. One clutch 2-1 or the other is then engaged depending upon the desired direction of travel. This is accomplished by moving lever 3 1- to pull link 37 to the right as shown in Figure 6 or to urge it to the left.

The positions of the arms 33 in Figure 6 are the positions thereof in which both clutches are disengaged. If upper arm of lever 37 is pulled to the right, this will cause bell-crank lever 39 to move counter-clockwise and will pull link 42 on the left a considerable distance sufficient to engage the rear clutch 2 1, due to the large horizontal component of the distance of the left arm of lever 39 will move on its arc. The right arm of lever will, however, not force rightlink 12 far enough to the right to engage the forward clutch 24, for the reason that the horizontal component of the are over which the right arm of lever 39 will travel will be veryslight and the pivotal connection of the right arm with-right link 42 will rise higher than the pivot 10 causing the lever 30 to shift link 42 to some extent backward to the left to neutralize the initial movement to the right. In a similar manner forward clutch 2 1 may be engaged and rear clutch 2a retained out of engagement by operating lever to urge right link 37 to the left whereby lever 39 will be rotated clockwise and will pull right link 12 a considerable distance to the left but will urge left link 4-2 only slightly to the left.

Operating one clutch 24.- or the other into engagement will cause one pinion 22 or the other to rotate gear 13 in the desired direction. Gears 17 and 18 may now be shifted so that gear 418 will mesh with gear 64 to obtain a low speed. This will rotate shaft comparatively slowly. Clutch 7 1 can then be operated to engage sprocket 73 which will drive tractor 12 by means of chain 80, sprocket 81, sprocket 82, chain 83 and sprocket 8 1. Driving of the drilling machine at low speed is thus accomplished, it being understood that mast 100 is not yet in position and belt 85 is preferably not yet applied over pulley 70. If desired, after the inertia of starting the machine has been overcome, gears 17 and 418 may be shifted by lever 58 to engage gears 47 and 63 to obtain a higher speed of travel.

hen the machine is in position for drilling, clutch 74 and clutches 24: are disengaged, and mast 100 is positioned in place and suitably guyed to support it therein, the cable 9% being carried over crown pulley 99. Arm 105 is secured to shaft 10% and block 107 to crank 110, cable 94 being passed over pulley 102. Tool 101 is connected to the end of cable 9 1, brake 96 being tightened'to prevent the cable from unreeling from the reel 93. Belt 85 is applied to pulleys 70 and 80 and one of the clutches 241 is engaged.

Gear shift lever 58 is then operated to obtain-the desired speed of shaft by which pulley is thus rotated, driving pulley 86 and crank 110 and oscillating arms 105 and 103 and consequently pulley 102 whereby reciprocations are imparted to tool 101. As tool 101 sinks into the ground brake band 96 is intermittently released to increase the length of cable 9 1.

After tool 101 has been sunk into the earth, at least its own depth, the clutches 2 1 may be again disengaged and clamp 114 may be 1 secured to cable 9 1. Arm 105 may be removed and pulley 102 be secured out of the way by rope 112, pitman 119 being connected to crank 110 and cable 0-1 being permitted to hang slack over crown pulley 90. Betation of crank 110 may be again effected by engaging a clutch 2 1 and at the desired speed by shifting lever 58 to oscillate beam 113. As the tool 101 sinks in the ground, screw 115 is adjusted to increase the effective length of the cable 9 1- suspended from beam 118 and after screw 115 has been adjusted out its e11- tire length, it may be readjusted to the position shown in Figure 2, the clamp 11 1- being released and secured further up on cable 94, sufficient cable to maintain the slack over pulley 99 beingprovided from the bull reel.

It is understood that the drilling opera tions are intermittent with the usual balingout and other operations incidental to sinking a well and that other mechanism for the purpose of accomplishing the baling-out and other operations are to be mounted on frame 10 or mast 100, these devices not being shown so as to admit of clear illustration of the present invention.

Modifications of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

W hat is claimed is:

1. In a drilling machine, a drilling apparatus, a prime mover, a transmission connected thereto and including a longitudinal shaft having forward. and reverse gearing thereon, a transverse shaft having slnftable reduction gearing thereon and operable by either the forward or reverse gearing, a second transverse shaft parallel-to the first shaft and driven by the reduction gearing, means on. said second transverse shaft for driving the drilling apparatus, a tractor for bodily transporting the drilling machine, and means on said second transverse shaft adapted to be selectively employed to drive said tractor, whereby driving of the drilling apparatus or tractor is effected" directly through only one transmission.

2. In a drilling machine, a frame, drilling apparatus on the frame, means for transport- 4- y r r 1,683,006

ing the frame from place to place, a prime the transmission 'to drive "the transporting mover on the frame, a transmission unit inmeans, a transmission control lever mounted eluding forward and reverse and reduction on said unit, and control means for the 19 gearing adapted to be selectively connected selectively connected; means also mountedon to the engine, means driven by the transmissaid unit. V

sion adapted to drive the drilling apparatus,. y y a means adapted to be selectively connected to ALTON F. YEATON, 

